FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, September 17, 2024
CONTACT: Brett Abrams | brett@unbendablemedia.com
New Report Finds Bay Area Abortion Care Infrastructure is Meeting Increased Demand, but the System is Strained in the Post-Dobbs Era
San Francisco Department on the Status of Women & Gender Equity Policy Institute Release Comprehensive Analysis on State of Reproductive Rights and Abortion Care in the Bay Area
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Today, the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women (SFD0SW) and the Gender Equity Policy Institute (GEPI) released a new report, Preparing for An Uncertain Future in Post-Dobbs America: A Landscape Analysis of Abortion Care in the San Francisco Bay Area, that investigates the state of reproductive rights and abortion care in the Bay Area through focus groups, expert interviews, and data analysis.
The report analyzes the provision of reproductive care in the region and provides recommendations to the San Francisco Bay Area Abortion Rights Coalition (BAARC), a regional collective of local governments and reproductive rights and justice stakeholders, for safeguarding and expanding access to abortion care in the region and effectively managing increased demand in the post-Dobbs era.
“As we face an unprecedented assault on women’s rights, particularly our reproductive freedoms, it is more critical than ever that we stand firm against the anti-woman patriarchy threatening our autonomy,” said Kimberly Ellis, Director of the San Francisco Department on the Status of Women. “San Francisco, alongside DOSW, is leading the charge to push back and assert our City as a safe haven for all women. The Bay Area, especially San Francisco, remains a beacon of hope, offering sanctuary and support for all who seek comprehensive reproductive healthcare.”
The report investigates the current state of abortion and reproductive healthcare in the Bay Area in a number of key topics, including:
- The legal landscape of reproductive rights in California and the San Francisco Bay Area. Thanks to a slew of supportive policies and budget allocations, the foundation is in place to support the delivery of high-quality, equitable, affordable and accessible abortion care.
- A socioeconomic and demographic profile of reproductive-age women in the Bay Area, including a county-level breakdown. Nearly a third of reproductive-age women are Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI). Latina and White women make up the next largest groups, with Black women at 5% of this population.
- The median income of Bay Area Black reproductive-age women ($72K) is only about half that of their White and AAPI counterparts ($150K and $165K respectively). The poverty rates for Bay Area Latina and Black reproductive-age women is more than double that of Bay Area White reproductive-age women.
- Other factors examined in the report include health insurance rates, teen pregnancy rates and rates of diseases like hypertension.
- Abortion care in the Bay Area. In the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area, there are approximately 50 clinics, health centers and medical facilities that offer abortion services.
- Nearly half are Planned Parenthood Health Centers.
- California has an abundance of clinicians and facilities that provide abortion care, but they tend to be located in urban areas, with rural areas underserved.
- Nationwide, low-income women and women of color bear the brunt of barriers to abortion and reproductive healthcare. These disparities are also present in places like California and the Bay Area that protect and support access to abortion care.
- Innovative Sexual and Reproductive Health Practice in Post-Dobbs America, which includes case studies of effective models of care.
READ THE FULL REPORT HERE: https://thegepi.org/reports/GEPI-SF-Bay-Area-Abortion-Rights.pdf.
“The Bay Area has a strong infrastructure for delivering high-quality sexual and reproductive healthcare,” said Nancy L. Cohen, President of the Gender Equity Policy Institute. “Increased demand for abortion care is being met, but the system is starting to experience real strains. This report identifies clear and actionable ways that BAARC can help alleviate those pressures and ensure that the Bay Area remains a leader in providing abortion care services for all.”
The report concludes with actionable policy recommendations in five areas:
- Regional systems coordination and information sharing: Prioritize community engagement by connecting with communities through trusted advocates; provide topic-specific trainings; share information about successful local programs and develop guides to facilitate regional replication; enlist Bay Area participants and statewide groups to help expand the coalition.
- Coordination care and logistics of access: Create a central hub for care coordination; address the difficulty women and providers have in enrolling in pregnancy-specific Medi-Cal to pay for abortion care; provide technical assistance to patient-supporting organizations; develop plans to assess region-wide logistical needs and attract funding for practical support from public/philanthropic sources; and channel funding through abortion funds with experience in the region.
- Security, privacy, and legal protection: Coordinate regionally on law enforcement matters, including the AG’s Reproductive Justice Unit in BAARC’s efforts; conduct assessment of all locations where anti-abortion protests are interfering with care; develop model local ordinances; host training programs for law enforcement; and improve systems to protect security of abortion care providers.
- Outreach, education, and communication: Widely publicize existing resources pertaining to CA’s reproductive healthcare, such as abortion.ca.gov; conduct public information campaigns within marginalized communities about the availability of free/low-cost abortion; share resources about telemedicine and medication abortion; and promote publication of scientifically accurate information about abortion to counter common myths promulgated by the anti-abortion movement.
- Policy coordination and advocacy: Collaborate with existing policy networks to identify policies relevant to the Bay Area; explore designating a BAARC representative to the FAB Council and a FAB Council member to BAARC to facilitate rapid information sharing; include SRH researchers and physicians in crafting policy related to medical procedures; and require community college student health centers to provide the full range of reproductive healthcare services.
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The San Francisco Department on the Status of Women is tasked with helping to transform San Francisco into a fully gender equitable City. The DOSW champions the equitable treatment and advancement of women, girls and nonbinary people across social, economic and political indices through policies, programs and legislation, both within City and County government and in the private sector.
The Gender Equity Policy Institute is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating gender equality in the United States through data‑based applied research, strategic advocacy, and policy development.
